Pressure-Relieving Footwear

ABSTRACT

A pressure-relieving footwear is an apparatus that supports and comforts a user&#39;s foot. The apparatus absorbs shock that traverses through the footwear, limiting the impact against the foot of the user. The apparatus includes a footwear, a cushioning layer, a support layer, and a first shock absorbing pad. The footwear protects user&#39;s foot and enhances the outfit of the user. The footwear includes an insole, an outsole, and an elongated heel. The outsole includes a forefoot portion and an aft portion. The cushioning layer absorbs the shock and the support layer cradles the foot. The insole is connected across the outsole. The cushioning layer is connected across the insole, opposite to the outsole. The support layer is connected across the cushioning layer, opposite the insole. The elongated heel is connected adjacent to the outsole. The first shock absorbing pad is integrated into the footwear, adjacent to the forefoot portion.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/359,561 filed on Jul. 7, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pressure-relieving footwear. More specifically, the present invention is a pressure-relieving footwear that provides continuous support and comfort and prevents direct contact between an insole and a user's foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

High heeled shoes impose stress upon the balls, the arches, and the heels of feet. This stress makes high heeled shoes difficult to wear for long periods of time and limit the amount of movement an individual may make throughout the day. In addition to stress imposed on an individual's feet, high heeled shoes strain muscles in calves, knees, thighs, hips and back. High heeled shoes, however, do not have support between an individual's feet and the insoles of high heeled shoes. Long-term effects of wearing high heels include muscle pain and muscle spasms, knee and hip pain, and increased risk of osteoarthritis. More specifically, hammertoes, blisters, bunions, corns, calluses, heel spurs, claw and mallet toes, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus and athlete's foot may develop on an individual's foot as a result of ill-fitted high heeled shoes. A temporary solution to this issue is insole inserts. The addition of insole inserts, however, alter the fit and overall comfort of the shoe around a foot, taking up space within the shoe. Furthermore, insole inserts are not sufficient in providing comfort or support if an individual has a disease or physical condition. Such diseases and conditions are existing pain or numbness in the feet, leg and foot deformities, spinal conditions, and neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease or cerebral palsy.

Limiting the impact of high heels on muscles and joints is important while wearing high heels. The present invention provides high heeled shoes with both support and comfort. The present invention is a pressure-relieving footwear that prevents a user's foot from coming into direct contact with the insole of a shoe and relieves the user's foot of any stress. The present invention is not limited one type of heel. The present invention provides comfort for footwear with stiletto heels and wedged heels. The footwear is not limited to one style and may be heeled sandals, high heels, wedges, heeled oxfords, heeled sneakers, and so on. The present invention limits the need to for a user to purchase an insole insert as the footwear is effectively padded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention, with the both the first shock absorbing pad and the second shock absorbing pad mounted onto the insole.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the first shock absorbing pad positioned between the cushioning layer and the support layer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention, with the second shock absorbing pad positioned between the cushioning layer and the support layer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of present invention, with the first shock absorbing pad integrated into the cushioning layer.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the third embodiment of the present invention, with the second shock absorbing pad integrated into the cushioning layer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, with the second shock absorbing pad integrated into the heel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a pressure-relieving footwear that prevents a user from coming into direct contact with an insole. The present invention provides the necessary support at the pressure points of heeled footwear. The present invention allows a user to comfortable and safely wear heeled footwear of varying styles and heel types. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present invention comprises a footwear 1, a cushioning layer 9, a support layer 10, and a first shock absorbing pad 11. The footwear 1 protects a user's foot and contributes to a user's stylistic expression. The footwear 1 may be of varying styles. Such styles include platforms, stilettos, booties, espadrilles, sneakers, mary janes, wedges, and so on. The footwear 1 comprises an insole 2, an outsole 3, and an elongated heel 6. The insole 2 upholds the cushioning layer 9, the support layer 10, and the first shock absorbing pad 11. The outsole 3 upholds and defines the structure of the insole 2. The elongated heel 6 supports the structure of the outsole 3 and uplifts the heel and the arch of the foot of the user. Moreover, the outsole 3 comprises a forefoot portion 4 and an aft portion 5. The forefoot portion 4 supports the forefoot of the user, and the aft portion 5 supports the hindfoot of the user. The cushioning layer 9 absorbs shock as the footwear 1 comes into contact with a surface. The cushioning layer 9 protects a user's foot from the heel to the toes. The cushioning layer 9 is preferably made of viscoelastic polymers material. The viscoelastic polymers material accommodates any shift in weight and absorbs shock against the foot of the user, while remaining flexible to any bending of the footwear 1. The support layer 10 provides comfort to a user's foot and provides a unique grip around the user's foot. The support layer 10 also prevents a user's foot from sliding across the cushioning layer 9. The support layer 10 is preferably made of high resilience flexible polyurethane foam material. High resilience flexible polyurethane foam material conforms to the contours of the foot of the user while further providing relief from any impact against the foot of the user. The first shock absorbing pad 11 provides additional support to the points along the foot that receive the greatest impact while walking, running, and so on. The first shock absorbing pad 11 is preferably made of sorbothane material, providing increased support to high impact points along the foot of the user while absorbing most of the shock against the high impact points.

The overall configuration of these components prevents a user's foot from getting damaged or hurt from heeled shoes. As seen in FIG. 2, the forefoot portion 4 and the aft portion 5 are positioned opposite to each other along the outsole 3, in order to accommodate the structure of a foot. The insole 2 is connected across the outsole 3, thereby supporting the cushioning layer 9, the support layer 10, the first shock absorbing pad 11, and the foot of the user. In order to protect the entirety of the user's foot from impact, the cushioning layer 9 is connected across the insole 2, opposite to the outsole 3, illustrated in FIG. 2. The support layer 10 is connected across the cushioning layer 9, opposite the insole 2 so that the contours of the foot may imprint upon the support layer 10. A first end 7 of the elongated heel 6 is connected adjacent to the outsole 3, thereby providing a secure and supportive fixture for any and all movements of the foot of the user. As shown in FIG. 2, a second end 8 of the elongated heel 6 and the forefoot portion 4 are positioned coplanar to each other, opposite the outsole 3. This configuration balances to the foot of the user while wearing the footwear 1. In order to limit the impact against the ball of the foot of the user, the first shock absorbing pad 11 is mounted onto the insole 2, adjacent to the forefoot portion 4.

The present invention further limits impact against the joints of the foot of the user via the first shock absorbing pad 11. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first shock absorbing pad 11 is positioned in between the cushioning layer 9 and the support layer 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In a first alternate embodiment of the present invention, the first shock absorbing pad 11 is integrated into the cushioning layer 9, as shown in FIG. 5. In both the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the first alternate embodiment of the present invention, the first shock absorbing pad 11 receives any stress that is not absorbed by the cushioning layer 9. More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides increased support with the ball of the foot while further distancing the foot of the user from the insole 2. However, if the space between the user's toes and the footwear 1 is limited, the first alternate embodiment allows a user's foot to more comfortably be surrounded by the footwear 1, while providing additional support to the ball of the foot of the user.

In alternate embodiments of the present invention, a second shock absorbing pad 12 provides additional support to the heel of the foot of the user. The second shock absorbing pad 12 is made of sorbothane material, which effectively absorbs most of impact against the heel of the user while providing the more comfort than other comparable shock absorbing materials. As seen in FIG. 2, the second shock absorbing pad 12 is mounted onto the insole 2, adjacent to the aft portion 5, thereby receiving stress that is not absorbed by the cushioning layer 9. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the second shock absorbing pad 12 is preferably positioned in between the cushioning layer 9 and the support layer 10, similar to that of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4. In a third embodiment of the present invention, the second shock absorbing pad 12 is integrated into the cushioning layer 9, shown in FIG. 6. In both embodiments of the present invention, the second shock absorbing pad 12 receives any stress that passes through cushioning layer 9, specifically within the aft portion 5. More specifically, increased support for the heel of the foot is provided with the second shock absorbing pad 12 positioned between the cushioning layer 9 and the support layer 10 while further distancing the foot of the user from both the insole 2 and the elongated heel 6. However, if the space between the ankle of the user is uncomfortably uplifted past the grasp of the footwear 1, the second shock absorbing pad 12 being integrated into the cushioning layer 9 allows the foot of the user to more comfortably be surrounded by the footwear 1, while providing additional support to the arch and the heel of the foot of the user. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the second shock absorbing pad 12 is integrated into the heel, as shown in FIG. 7. This configuration allows the second shock absorbing pad to absorb as much of the impact against the heel of the user even before reaching the insole 2 of the footwear 1. It is understood that the second embodiment of the present invention may arranged with the cushioning layer 9, the support layer 10, and the footwear 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the varying embodiments of the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pressure-relieving footwear comprises: a footwear a cushioning layer; a support layer; a first shock absorbing pad; the footwear comprises an insole, an outsole, and an elongated heel; the outsole comprises a forefoot portion and an aft portion; the forefoot portion and the aft portion being positioned opposite to each other along the outsole; the insole being connected across the outsole; the cushioning layer being connected across the insole, opposite to the outsole; the support layer being connected across the cushioning layer, opposite the insole; a first end of the elongated heel being connected adjacent to the outsole; a second end of the elongated heel and the forefoot being positioned coplanar to each other, opposite to the insole; and the first shock absorbing pad being mounted onto the insole, adjacent to forefoot portion.
 2. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the first shock absorbing pad being positioned in between the cushioning layer and the support layer.
 3. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the first shock absorbing pad being integrated into the cushioning layer.
 4. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a second shock absorbing pad; and the second shock absorbing pad being mounted onto the insole, adjacent to aft portion.
 5. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 4 comprises: the second shock absorbing pad being positioned in between the cushioning layer and the support layer.
 6. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 4 comprises: the second shock absorbing pad being integrated into the cushioning layer.
 7. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 4 comprises: the second shock absorbing pad being integrated into the heel.
 8. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second shock absorbing pad is made of a sorbothane material.
 9. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning layer is made of a viscoelastic polymers material.
 10. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support layer is made of a high resilience flexible polyurethane foam material.
 11. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first shock absorbing pad is made of a sorbothane material.
 12. A pressure-relieving footwear comprises: a footwear a cushioning layer; a support layer; a first shock absorbing pad; a second shock absorbing pad; the footwear comprises an insole, an outsole, and an elongated heel; the outsole comprises a forefoot portion and an aft portion; the forefoot portion and the aft portion being positioned opposite to each other along the outsole; the insole being connected across the outsole; the cushioning layer being connected across the insole, opposite to the outsole; the support layer being connected across the cushioning layer, opposite the insole; a first end of the elongated heel being connected adjacent to the outsole; a second end of the elongated heel and the forefoot being positioned coplanar to each other, opposite to the insole; the first shock absorbing pad being mounted onto the insole, adjacent to forefoot portion; and the second shock absorbing pad being mounted onto the insole, adjacent to aft portion.
 13. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the first shock absorbing pad being positioned in between the cushioning layer and the support layer.
 14. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the first shock absorbing pad being integrated into the cushioning layer.
 15. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the second shock absorbing pad being positioned in between the cushioning layer and the support layer.
 16. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the second shock absorbing pad being integrated into the cushioning layer.
 17. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the second shock absorbing pad being integrated into the heel.
 18. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cushioning layer is made of a viscoelastic polymers material.
 19. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support layer is made of a high resilience flexible polyurethane foam material.
 20. The pressure-relieving footwear as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first shock absorbing pad and the second shock absorbing pad are made of a sorbothane material. 